Stardust

Being A Romance Within the Realms of Faerie

Winner of the American Library Award, Mythopoeic Award and World Fantasy Award for Best Artist!

It is here in Wall that young Tristran Thorn loses his heart to the town beauty--a woman who is as cold and distant as the star she and Tristran see fall from the sky on a crisp October evening. To gain the hand of his beloved, Tristran rashly vows to fetch the fallen star and embarks upon a lover's quest that will carry him over the ancient wall and into a world beyond his wildest imagingings...

NEIL GAIMAN AND CHARLES VESS'S STARDUST features the New York Times best-selling author (THE SANDMAN) and one of the industry's best illustrators at the height of their creative powers.

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I was actually able to finish this book in one sitting!! It may have seemed mighty, and it was, but it sure was interesting right from beginning to the end. I was borrowing this book off a friend who was adamant on getting me to read it, and I guess I'm pretty glad I did. Through the ups and downs and plot twists all around, there were many underlying morals that I am sure readers of any age can learn from. I was a tiny bit confused at times but in the end, everything made sense and I marvel at how the author was able to twist everything together.
- @Siri of The Hamilton Public Library's Teen Review Board

My favorite Neil Gaiman book so far. A timeless tale of love and magic, Gaiman creates such a fantastic world filled with great creatures and villians. Highly recommend the audio as well -- Gaiman reads it!

While the narrative mostly follows Tristran, I found myself feeling bad for fallen star Yvaine most of the time! The book follows vivid and strange characters as they travel through a vivid and strange world.

This is one of those rare times where I would not recommend a Neil Gaiman book. I had no idea there was a movie, but you might want to check out that instead. The book was just okay. I don't really recommend it unless you want to read every Gaiman book ever. I do, which made me read this. However, there weren't enough surprises for me (especially considering the author) to exceed my average expectations. It was a nice effort and if it were anybody else writing it I would have probably been more lenient. But as is, it just blends in with the crowd.

This is a book my 8th grade Language Arts class read together in class. After we read the book I let them watch the DVD. They enjoyed the fiction tremendously,... a great break from all the non-fiction required now with Common Core.

Having watched the movie before reading this book, there were some similarities with certain scenes from the book. However the book covers some of the background elements that doesn't feature in the film, which is interesting. In the long run, I prefer the movie (even though the plot is predictable, the outcome and execution is important and fun). The book itself is like a childlike fairy tale with adult elements. I recommend reading it just for the difference and for curiosity.

I watched the movie before reading the book (didn't know the movie was based on a book). Although the movie may have been a bit over-the-top in parts, overall I think I preferred it over the book. As others have said, there really isn't a climax at the end, the book just...ends.

"They have said that the Lilim were dead before now, but they have always lied. The squirrel has not yet found the acorn that will grow into the oak that will be cut to form the cradle of the babe who will grow to slay me."

Summary

Tristran Thorn falls in love with the prettiest girl in town. She says she'll marry him if he finds find the falling star they both watched streak across the night sky, so he heads out into the perilous land of faerie, where not everything is what it appears.

FavouriteFiction
Oct 29, 2009

Tristran Thorn makes a promise to bring back a fallen star and lands himself in an adventure involving a magic ruby, witches and the quest for the throne of a magic kingdom.

The 2007 film based on this novel stars Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert De Niro.